Chunox Polyclinic Services Resume with N.H.I. Partnership

Health care is being offered once again at the Chunox Polyclinic. This is through its National Health Insurance Service provider, the Northern Medical Specialty Plaza Limited. According to the government of Belize, this private-public partnership will give eight communities in the Corozal district access to affordable, primary healthcare services when a valid Social Security card is presented. Here is a look at a ceremony that was held over the weekend in Chunox village.

Deysi Mendez

Deysi Mendez, Technical Advisor, National Health Insurance

“Today what has started is the re-launch of health services in this area. This doesn’t mean it is only Chunox or the community who will be able to access the services here, but that they have the responsibility of taking these services to other nearby communities such as Sartaneja, Progresso, Hill Bank, and Little Belize, what we consider a catchment area which is comprised of eight communities that are nearby. So, there are responsible for bringing and improving access and services to the people in these communities. Basically, what is being implemented here is a model that has proven to be effective and every efficient since 2001 in Belize City Southside specifically, in which we have had the participation of the private sector and nongovernmental organizations. So, basically what is brought here today is a management through private sector to help strengthen the public system, but operating through a contract agreement through the National Health Insurance.”

Dr. Jose Salinas

Dr. Jose Salinas, Director, Northern Medical Plaza

“Initially, our plan is for us to start rolling our primary health care. Primary health care is the base for prevention of all health diseases, because it includes the management of all common illnesses, screening cancer, inpatients, screening for patients that might have risk for cardio-vascular diseases, immunization as a preventative measure, certain conditions that may be prevalent in the region. The assistance of emergency care whereby patients might have an incident at home or accident on the road, here at the polyclinic we have the equipment to stabilize those patients and make the proper referral of those patients to the hospital for their definitive management.”